At first glance, gymnastics scoring can feel like a mystery. You see incredible flips and turns, but then the scoreboard flashes numbers like 13.800 or 14.200, and it’s not clear how judges got there.
The truth is, every routine is broken down into three parts: Difficulty (D), Execution (E), and sometimes a small neutral deduction. Once you know what those mean, the formula is surprisingly simple:
Final Score = D + E − Neutral Deductions
Let’s walk through each piece in plain language.
1. Difficulty (D): “How hard was it?”
The D-score measures the challenge level of a routine. Judges look at the hardest skills the gymnast performs, required elements for that event, and whether the gymnast connects difficult skills together.
- Skill Values: Each skill is assigned a letter from A (easy, worth 0.1) to J (extremely hard, worth 1.0). The harder the skills, the more value they bring.
- Counting Skills: Only a set number of top-valued skills are counted (for example, 8 plus the dismount at the elite level).
- Connections: Linking elements without pausing can add extra tenths for risk.
- Vault Exception: On vault, there’s no picking and choosing. Your D-score is simply the posted value of the vault you perform, straight from the official vault table.
Because the D-score is open-ended, there’s no “maximum” difficulty. Gymnasts can keep adding harder skills to raise it.
2. Execution (E): “How well was it done?”
If D is about risk, E is about polish. Every routine begins with an E-score of 10.0. From there, judges subtract for mistakes:
- Form breaks: Legs apart, bent knees, flexed feet
- Posture and body lines: Arching, piked hips, lack of extension
- Amplitude: Low height on jumps or tumbling passes
- Artistry (beam and floor): Lack of expression, rushed or awkward choreography
- Landings: Small hop (−0.1), medium step (−0.3), large lunge (−0.5), fall (−1.0)
The cleaner the performance, the closer the E-score stays to 10.0. Messy routines drop quickly into the 7s or 6s.
3. Neutral Deductions: “Lines, time, and admin stuff”
These are small penalties that have nothing to do with skill or form. Judges take them after adding D and E:
- Out of bounds (floor or vault runway) → −0.1 to −0.3
- Overtime (beam or floor) → −0.1
- Attire violations (jewelry, incorrect uniform) → −0.3 or more
- Coach interference (spotting or standing too close) → −0.5
Neutral deductions are usually minor, but they can still swing close competitions.
Putting It All Together
Here’s how a typical floor score might look:
- D-score: 5.4 (skill values + connections)
- E-score: 8.6 (1.4 deducted from 10.0)
- Neutral deduction: −0.1 (stepped out of bounds)
Final Score = 5.4 + 8.6 − 0.1 = 13.9
Two Scoring Worlds You’ll See Most Often
If you’re watching college or lower-level meets, you’ll see scores out of 10.0, where the “perfect 10” is still alive. But when tuning in to elite competitions, don’t expect 10s, the numbers are bigger (13s, 14s, 15s) because of the open-ended difficulty system.
1) Elite & International (FIG)
At the Olympics, World Championships, or other international meets, routines are judged under the FIG Code of Points (2025–2028 cycle).
- Open-Ended Difficulty (D): There’s no maximum. Gymnasts pile up value through hard skills, required elements, and connections.
- Execution (E): Always starts from 10.0 and deductions are taken for form, artistry, and landings.
- Final Score: D + E − neutral penalties (like out of bounds).
That’s why you see final scores like 13.850 or 14.300. They come from combining an open-ended D with an E out of 10.
2) College (NCAA Women) & Most U.S. Club Meets
NCAA Women’s Gymnastics
If you’re watching NCAA women’s gymnastics, the system looks different because it’s based on the “Perfect 10” model.
- Each routine must meet composition and bonus rules to earn a 10.0 start value.
- Judges then take execution deductions from that 10.0.
- That’s why NCAA scores look like 9.825, 9.900, or 10.000.
Essentially, the challenge is to “earn the right” to start at 10.0, then aim for perfection.
USAG Development Program (Compulsory Levels 1–5)
- Routines have a 10.0 Start Value built in since skills and choreography are pre-set.
- Judges only deduct for execution errors.
- Exception: Level 5 bars has two different dismount options. One earns the full 10.0 start, the easier one does not.
This is often the scoring system parents encounter most when their kids are in lower levels.
USAG Xcel Program
Xcel routines are more flexible than compulsory ones, but the scoring still keeps things simple:
- Judges check that difficulty and requirements are met.
- Execution starts from 10.0, with deductions taken as usual.
- Neutral penalties (like overtime or out of bounds) may apply.
The Key Takeaway
- International/Elite: Open-ended difficulty plus execution out of 10.0 = big scores like 14.200.
- College & Clubs: Start value is capped at 10.0, and the score drops from there.
For parents and fans, knowing which world you’re watching makes the numbers make sense. Olympic scoring rewards both how hard and how well, while NCAA and most U.S. levels are still rooted in chasing that classic “Perfect 10.”
How a Routine Is Judged: Step by Step
- Before the salute: Judges know what counts on each event (required elements and composition). Vault values are posted on a table; optional events have rules for what “builds” D.
- During the routine:
- D-panel identifies credited skills, required elements, and connection bonuses to total the D score.
- E-panel starts at 10.0 and subtracts for form, posture, height, rhythm/artistry, landings, and falls.
- After the routine: Any neutral deductions (out of bounds, overtime, attire) are taken from the combined total to get the final score.
Event by Event: What Moves the Number Most
Each apparatus has its own rules and emphasis, but the same formula applies everywhere. Here’s what matters most on each event:
Vault
- Difficulty: You pick a vault, and it comes with a preset D-score from the vault table. Harder vaults (like twisting or multiple salto vaults) carry higher values.
- Execution: Judges look for explosive height, long distance, straight body position in the air, and most importantly, the landing.
- Big Movers: A perfectly stuck landing can save huge deductions. Steps, hops, or body pike on landing cut into the score quickly.
Uneven Bars
- Difficulty: Built through release moves (letting go and regrasping the bar), turns, and a valued dismount. Bonus comes from linking elements smoothly.
- Execution: Tight, extended form; handstands hitting vertical; clean swing rhythm; and precise catches.
- Big Movers: Wobbly handstands or bent arms show up as deductions. A stuck, high-value dismount seals the score.
Balance Beam
- Difficulty: Comes from series like acro + acro connections, leaps and jumps, full turns, and the dismount. Series bonuses add valuable tenths.
- Execution: Judges reward tall posture, steady rhythm, artistry, and controlled landings.
- Big Movers: Wobbles and balance checks rack up deductions; a fall costs a full −1.0. Smooth, confident rhythm impresses judges and keeps scores higher.
Floor Exercise
- Difficulty: Built from powerful tumbling passes, plus dance skills (leaps, turns) and artistry. Choreography and element variety matter.
- Execution: Judges look for clean landings, extended body lines, pointed toes, and expressive performance that connects with the audience.
- Neutral Deductions: Stepping out of bounds lowers the score:
- One foot out → −0.10
- Both feet → larger deduction
- Big Movers: Landing cleanly on every pass and showing full performance quality are the keys to breaking into the higher 13s and 14s.
While details differ across levels and leagues, the pattern is the same everywhere: D builds from the skills you do, E rises or falls based on how cleanly you do them, and neutral penalties keep routines inside the rules.
